Addict (Hunter #2)(83)

“My Lord Nem…”

Syl was silenced when Matthew slapped him soundly across the face. “You forget yourself, servant. My brother’s mate has what she needs from you. Go and see to my slave’s needs. And Syl, if your tongue slips like that again, I shall cut it out.”

Syl’s body shook as he backed out on his hands and knees. His head was down, but he didn’t seem to dare turn his back on Matthew. He didn’t get up until he was well out of harm’s way. Then he hurried down the hall to do the master’s bidding. Matthew’s face was perfectly pleasant when he turned back to me. But I’d seen his true nature. Demons are tricky things. They can seem entirely normal, but they are always, always at their core brutal creatures. Gray’s brother seemed perfectly human, and he could be quite charming and pleasant when it suited him. It would be a mistake to think that he would act humanely.

“I’m not his mate.” I responded out of pure reflex. Why did I care what Gray’s brother thought? I found my footing and shook off Gray’s hands. They’d gone around my waist when he caught me, and I could feel the heat of his body.

Matt shook his head and clucked sympathetically. “Our mates are stubborn things. I think it’s our family curse. First, my mate runs from me after years of bliss, and now yours refuses to accept her fate.” He turned his eyes on me and they darkened as though he could press his will outward. “You can play around with the vampire all you like. It changes nothing. In the end, you will marry my brother. You will bear his son, and you will follow him home.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the look in Matthew’s eyes stopped me. He wasn’t going to listen to me. He really believed. I could see from Gray’s face that he believed it, too.

Matthew snagged the bag in my hand. He dumped the contents on the bed. I saw a leather mini skirt, a brilliant red corset, and thigh-high fishnets.

“Am I his lover or his hooker?” I was getting sick of the various costumes this mission required. I longed for the day I would be required to wear sweatpants and a T-shirt.

Matthew shook his head, dismissing the accusation. “My brother would never engage the services of a prostitute. Now, take off your clothes so we can get you properly dressed. Brother, you know what to do.”

Gray walked to the bathroom and when he returned, he was running a fluffy towel across his body. It soaked up the sweat from his workout.

“This is your idea of cleaning up, Sloane? Seriously, you smell like a water buffalo.” He didn’t. He smelled like a hot, sweaty man and it did something for me, but I wasn’t about to admit that to him. “Are you telling me we don’t have time for you to take a quick shower?”

Gray ran the towel over his head and then under his armpits. “I promise to smell as sweet as a rose, baby. I turned on the shower already. The water is heating up as we speak. This is for you.”

He tossed me the towel and gave me a wink.

“Now I’m the maid, too?”

Gray laughed as he walked into the bathroom. He didn’t bother to close the door. He kicked off his shoes and shoved his shorts off his hips. I was left with the perfect vision of his muscular backside as he stepped into the shower.

Matthew had a knowing smile on his face. “Do you want a clean towel to wipe off the drool, dear? That one you’re holding is for something else. Please get undressed and wipe that all over your body. Pay close attention to sexual erogenous zones. We need you to smell like you spend a lot of time with my brother on top of you. Unless, of course, you would like to do it the old-fashioned way. I assure you, my brother would be more than happy to mark you in any way you like.”

“Jerk.”

He shrugged. “Get dressed, love. It’s almost time to go.”

Matthew glided out of the bedroom. He called for Tristan, and I was left with my ex-fiancé’s sweat. When this case was over, I promised myself I would stick to cheating spouses and lost dogs. I would take on any case that didn’t involve smelling like someone else.



Being a duke of Hell pays. I was certain that Winter’s place on the Hell plane was probably built on the souls of the damned or something, but here in Dallas, he lived in a gorgeous French country estate complete with a stunning fountain in the circular drive. I stared at it as the driver pulled up. It was completely frozen—as if the weather had flashed it, capturing the perfection of the water. It was a statue now, a tribute to the power of the cold.

Winter was powerful. His mere presence in the city had brought about this crazy freeze.

Gray’s hand found mine, his fingers tangling. “It’s going to be all right. I’ll take care of you.”

“What does she think is going to happen?” Matthew asked, his hand on the silent Tristan’s knee. “Does she think we’re going to allow Winter to kill her in front of us? We’re not without power, Kelsey. And all those ridiculous fears you have about the vampire mean nothing since you won’t be with him for long.”

“Brother.” The word was a warning coming out of Gray’s mouth.

Matthew put a hand on his forehead as though it pained him. “Well, she’s bombarding me with it. I don’t understand it. She fears she’s unlovable, but you love her. It isn’t logical for her to be apart from you. We could take over her training.”

“She’s afraid of me. I explained that to you. Let her be, and this isn’t the place to discuss family issues. There’s our host.” Gray’s jaw had tightened, a sure sign he was anxious.